Improvement in siding-gages



c. SARGE NT.

, Siding-Gage. No. 167,791. PatentedSept.14,l8-75.

Fly. 5.

NITED STATES PATENT Orrroin.

CHARLES SARGENT, OF SPARLAND, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SlDlNG-GAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,791, dated September 14, 1875; application filed January 21, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SARGENT, of

Sparland, in the county of Marshall and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Siding-Gages and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in Which Figure 1 is a side view. Fig. 2 is a transverse section after the line 00 m. Fig. 3 represents the interior of the sliding knife-box detached from the gage. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the knife-box; and Fig. 5 shows the joint-marker which is constructed at one or both ends of my improved gage, as hereinafter set forth.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My improvement consists in providing the instrument commonly known as a carpen ters siding-gage with a sliding knife placed in a box, and so constructed that it may easily be depressed when it is desired to use it, while when out of use the point of the knife Will be raised up toward or into the box automatically by means of springs placed in the said box. It further consists in providing one (or both) end of the gage with a knife-point, to be used as a joint-marker.

A is the body of the gage, which may be made of Wood or any other suitable material. a. is a dovetailed slot or groove, in which slides the corresponding projection b of the knife-box B, Fig. 4.

The gage shown in the drawing is constructed somewhat differently, viz: by cutting a rectangular slot in the body of the gage, and then covering that side of the same in which the slot is made by a rectangular plate, having a corresponding but narrowerslot extending lengthwise. Thus a receptacle, a, Fig. 2, is formed for the projection b of the knife-box B, acting in the same manner as an ordinary dovetailed slot.

The box B is recessed, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so as to afford space for the knife 0 and springs c c.

These springs may be of any suitable construction which will answer their purpose, viz raise the point of the knife when it is not used.

I prefer to use the form of springs shown in Fig. 3, which simply consists of two flat strips of steel resting on bearings within the box, and operating on the knife-blade or cutter by means of the knobs. or projections e 6 attached to the latter. I

From this description, the manner of using my improved gage will be readily understood. After placing the gage across the board or plank to be marked and out, the knife-box B is slid to one end of the groove. The knife or cutter 0 is then depressed till thevpoint touches the board by" means of the thumb-piece f, and while exerting this pressure the box, and with it the knife, is drawn along the groove to the opposite end thereof, thus making a straight mark across the board.

D is a steel cutter, sharpened at its lower edge, and at the point d, and projecting from the extreme end of the gage in the manner shown, flush with one of the sides of the body of the gage.

It is used as a joint-marker, for marking OK the various lengths of siding, or for other. urposes, for which now, usually, a separate tool is used.

Having thus briefly described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent The combination of the frame A, exterior hollow box B, having the slide b, with the cutter 0, double springs 00, and marker D, all constructed and operated substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of January, 1875.

CHARLES SARGENT. Witnesses:

TDVIOTHY E. GAPEN, NEWTON I. Swmr. 

